The Bowen Island Dog Ranch celebrates eight years in business this month and in dog years that makes them 45 years old. In Bowen Island years that makes them almost local, and in business it makes them a success. In honour of The Dog Ranch’s birthday, owner Karen Munro, is thanking her clients, neighbours and community by offering ‘opening day’ boarding prices until Nov. 30th - that’s $30/day and less than most of us pay for the Queen of Cap!
Business is a hot topic on Bowen Island, especially with this being election week, and not to get into a heavy conversation about Bowen’s economic development, but its seems The Dog Ranch has figured out a thing or two bridging all the hot topics that usually divides us:
1) They hire local staff: depending on the season, the Dog Ranch employs between 8 and 10 people living on-island.
2) They contribute to the community in multiple ways: supporting local rescues, pet stores, and our local vet; participating in the Festival of Trees, Bowfest and the Christmas Craft Fair.
4) They support our young people offering work professional experience for those who are passionate about dogs.
Bowen, as an utterly dog-loving community, has made a perfect home for Munro as she pursues her dream of becoming the Lower Mainland’s premier dog boarding facility. The Ranch offers off-leash boarding with a full time vet tech staff seven days a week, dog grooming, puppy and dog training with Bowen Island’s own Master Trainer Dayna Woodman, plus a heated boarding facility in a doubled fenced safety first property designed for running, digging and playing dogs during their scheduled day of play and socializing. If there was such a thing as Club Med for dogs, I think this might be it!
I spoke with Ollie’s owner, Ellen about The Ranch. Ollie is a big, friendly golden lab, (and one of Basia’s pups). Brenda gushed about what a difference The Dog Ranch has made in both her family’s life and Ollie’s.
“Ollie was only 12 weeks old when my work schedule changed and I was suddenly needed off island at times. I didn’t know what I would’ve done without them. I took him to The Ranch and they went above and beyond to help me out. They looked after him, they grew him up, he went to puppy training with Dayna, it was like taking my kid to pre-school, only it’s dog-school. When Ollie was doing this alpha-thing with my daughter, Dayna came out and taught our whole family what to do. They are just always there when I need them. I love being able to scratch all the “dog to-dos” off my list, because they handle it all! It’s a godsend having them on the island, and I secret obsession is watching what Ollie’s up to on their great facebook page. I can peek in on him all day!”
Home is where we are family, and work is where we are business. It’s a noteable thing to be able to do both in the same place, especially when the place we are is an island paradise. It takes a village, to raise a business and a dog, but having a real community is even better.
If you want to take advantage of The Ranch’s opening day special on until November 30th, or to sign up your pup for puppy training with Master Trainer Dayna Woodman this weekend, give them a call at 6965.
